The Paris Agreement (PA), which entered into force in early November 2016, has been recognised as a key milestone in fighting climate change. However, much support is still needed both to help countries deliver on their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and strenghen current NDCs, as most are deemed insufficient to achieve the overarching objectives of the PA.

The Facilitative “Talanoa” Dialogue and the PA rulebook (processes scheduled for finalisation during the UNFCCC COP24 in Katowice in 2018) will require all countries to elaborate their NDC implementation strategies and further increase their ambition. As part of this process, the research community has a major role to play helping countries explore new ideas and approaches.

Concept

The GCPC is an annual event that brings together representatives of both the research and policy communities in different regions of the world. For the 4th edition, the conference offered an opportunity for stakeholders to identify and explore the challenges and opportunities faced as countries implement NDCs under the PA, as well as work towards the overall transition towards low-carbon development.

For 2018, the GCPC convened a vibrant debate around effective and innovative options by and for the Latin American (LATAM) region in their implementation of NDCs.

We invited researchers to submit their ideas to the GCPC, in the form of abstracts. Submitted abstracts were advised to focus on the following thematic areas:

Governance structures to support the implementation and progressive strengthening of NDCs;

Climate benefits of and emission reductions from land use, land use change and forestry;

Scaling up and ensuring the efficient allocation of climate finance and investment;

Policy frameworks to promote the deployment and sustainable integration of renewable energy;

Aligning climate and trade agendas at the regional and international level;

Advancing sustainable mobility and low-carbon public transport in megacities;